Not that it washed with the Hotline punters who were lining up to take a swipe at the Hoops chief executive.

Pat Thompson, Parkhead
, said: “I see Lawwell is pleading poverty. Perhaps the next time fans protests they should take along the violins to go along with his greeting.

“The fans don’t buy it. The club has refused to reinvest and they never went out and replaced Scott Brown who they knew was going to be out for four months.”

Michael Sheerin, Liverpool
, said: “I’m furious at this Celtic farce. We have been crying out for a proper goalscorer but now I fear it’s too little to late. Missing out on Scepovic is the final straw.”

Stewart Dickie, Baillieston
, said: “Lawwell says Celtic are down £10m because of Rangers. He’s changed his tune. It wasn’t so long ago he said Celtic didn’t need Rangers.

“There’s been a total retraction. He says Celtic are now a selling club but not only that because they are a borrowing club as well with all these loan deals.”

Gerry Kelly, Paisley
, emailed: “Supporters keep this club alive so don’t say we have no money – cough up or move on.

“The Champions League was Celtic’s lifeline and they can’t even get that right.”

“Not so long ago Lawwell was one of the leaders in the vote to throw Rangers out of the Premier League. Only the Kilmarnock chairman had the foresight to realise the consequence of such an action and abstained.

“What goes around comes around Mr Lawwell.”

Poll loading …

Ian McAllister, Banff
, said: “Lawwell stated Rangers demise has cost Celtic £10m a year. I seem to recollect Lawwell was first in lineto make sure Rangers got the maximum penalty so let him take what he gets.”

Ian Grant, Falkirk
, said: “Lawwell has been on the end of a lot of criticism but I am satisfied with the answers he gave in Record Sport this week.

“It was interesting to see him talking about the amount of money Rangers’ demise has cost the club. I have no doubt Lawwell would want to see them back as soon as possible and I do as well because I miss the rivalry.”

Hoops boss Ronny Deila is still getting it tight from some quarters. Tom Devlin, Rothesay
, said: “I’ve got some advice for Deila. If he is thinking of playing Ambrose and Izaguirre then don’t bother. Just get yourself up to Glasgow Green and grab a few lads off the pitches up there.

“I can’t believe those two are still running around in a hooped jersey. They make me ashamed to be a Celtic fan.”

It’s an even gloomier picture at Rangers, with boss Ally McCoist and the board in the firing line.

Bob Moore
emailed: “Celtic fans were embarrassed in midweek but as a Rangers fan I was embarrassed by McCoist on Friday.

“He lost the plot in his press conference and that’s not the way a Rangers manager should be behaving. It’s time for him to go and take his old pals’ act with him.”

Lewis Fotheringham, Glasgow
, said: “As a Rangers fan I’m now concerned about what is going on behind the scenes at Ibrox. Where are we going to get £4m from?

“If Administration II comes knocking on our door and hits us with a 25-point deduction it will be a miracle if our club survives. Again.”

Dunky Robertson, London
, said: “Rangers are in a cesspit of their own making. Graham Wallace could double his bonus and yet the club could go into administration.

“It’s a sure thing they will decide to sell Murray Park as there is money to be made there and they will see it as surplus to requirements.”

Jimmy Findlay, Lennoxtown
, said: “I’m a Celtic fan but I actually feel sorry for the Rangers supporters. The older Celtic fans know what it’s like to have a board who think our heads zip up at the back.

“They now see the chief executive Graham Wallace could double his bonus. The Rangers board are only in it for themselves.”

Ross County are on the lookout for a new manager after Derek Adams was binned last week but Andrew Lamb, Fraserburgh
, said: “I can’t understand this love affair with Roy MacGregor.

“The Ross County chairman has gone through a tidal wave of managers over the years and Adams is just the latest one.

“He is an egotist and no better than the old muck-and-brass Yorkshire mill owners.

“Whoever gets the manager job at Dingwall should go in with their eyes open.”